Patients killed in a fire in a COVID-19 ward in India (Archive)

Ten patients died Saturday after a fire broke out in a hospital's COVID-19 ward in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said.

An official told New Delhi Television that around 17 patients were in the ward when the fire broke out. The remaining patients have been moved to a COVID-19 ward in another hospital, district collector Rajendra Bhosle said.

Although the fire was controlled, its cause remains yet unclear, and officials will carry out an investigation, Bhosle said.

The former Chief Minister of the State, Devendra Fadnavis, took to Twitter to express his condolences and called for “strict action” against those responsible.

Very shocking & disturbing news from Nagar
My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in Nagar Civil Hospital ICU Fire incident.
Praying for speedy recovery of the injured.
In-depth inquiry should be conducted & strict action against all responsible people! https://t.co/aULpawsrmv
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 6, 2021

Such incidents are not uncommon in India. In May, when the country was battling a devastating surge in coronavirus cases, a fire in a COVID-19 ward in western India killed at least 18 patients.

Indian police said hospital workers and firefighters rescued 50 other patients in the hospital.

It is noteworthy that crematoria and cemeteries in India have recently been unable to receive bodies of Corona-associated deaths, and according to media reports, the bodies are dumped in rivers, due to the lack of firewood for burning, with others being devoured by dogs and crows.